The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)/Northeast Health District has received a report of several fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses in Athens-Clarke County. Preliminary information indicates that some of the overdoses may have been caused by drugs mixed with fentanyl or xylazine. DPH is continuing to investigate this situation; we do not have any additional details at this time, and this information is subject to change.
It is critical that persons who use drugs understand there is a risk of overdose when using stimulants or other drugs that may be mixed with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Whenever possible, naloxone should be carried when working in an environment where an overdose incident may occur.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain. Similar to morphine but far more potent, it is designed to be used by prescription and under a doctor’s care. Fentanyl is also manufactured in illegal labs and mixed with other illegal or commonly misused drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and cocaine to increase their potency – which increases the risk of fatal interactions. This illegal fentanyl is also being made into pills made to look like legitimate prescription medications, and these counterfeit pills often contain lethal doses of fentanyl. Xylazine—a tranquilizer used in veterinary medicine and not approved for use in people—has also been found in the illegal drug supply in the United States and is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Drug overdoses have been increasing both in Georgia and nationally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that from 2019 to 2021, the total number of opioid-related overdose deaths increased from 853 to 1,718, an increase of 101%. Fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths increased 124%, from 614 to 1,379 during this time.
To learn more about Georgia’s response to the opioid crisis, visit: https://dph.georgia.gov/stopopioidaddiction
For more local surveillance information, visit:
https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/drug-surveillance-unit
For individuals who want to stop or decrease substance use, these resources can help:
Georgia Substance Abuse Council
Call or text CARES Warm Line at 1-844-326-5400 (365 days a year, 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.)
Clinical Treatment Services
To find state licensed providers, use the SAMHSA “Find Treatment” link: https://findtreatment.gov
Residential Recovery Centers in GA
Georgia Association of Residential Recovery Centers (GARR) https://www.thegarrnetwork.org/membership-index (Click on “Download Member List.”)
Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) are peer-operated centers that serve as resources for community-based recovery support. Local RCOs include:
Divas Who Win - https://www.divaswhowin.org/
People Living in Recovery - https://www.peoplelivinginrecovery.com/
Reboot Jackson - https://rebootjackson.com/
Walton Empowers - https://waltonempowersinc.wixsite.com/website
Harm Reduction offers strategies that can reduce consequences associated with substance use. To get a Naloxone Kit or information about harm reduction, contact:
Access Point - https://www.accesspointga.org/
Georgia Overdose Prevention - https://georgiaoverdoseprevention.org/
Twelve-step Support Groups
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) - https://grscna.com/na-meetings-ga/
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - https://find.aageorgia.org/